Paper aligner for billing machines



Nov. 5, 1929. 1 F. HAGEMANN l PAPER ALIGNER FOR BILLINJG MACHINES,

2 Sheets-Sheet l original Filed June 17, 192e IN V EN TOR.

A TToRNEYS.

Nov. 5, 1929. L. F. HAGEMANN PAPER ALIGNER FOR BILLING MACHINES OriginalFiled June 17", 1926 2 Sheetssheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 5, 1929 UNITED STAT-'Es I yPA-Turri" oFFrcE LOUIS lIEREIDHAGEMANN, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO vAMERICAN' -SALESBOOK' COMPANY, LIMITED, OF TORONTO. CANADA. A CORPORATION OF ON- TARIo,CANADA :PAPER ALIGNER FOR BILLING MACHINES Application led .Tune 17,1926, Serial No. 116,593. Renewed `January 12, 1929.

This invention `relates to billing or si-milar machines and moreparticularly in some of its details,`it relates to improvements inmechanisms forl adjusting and aligning the paper record. strips used insuch machines so as to bring said strips in correct position for thereception of an inscription, and furthermore to tension the strips forsimilar purposes.

4It is the 'general object of the invention to A m provide an improvedpractical mechanism for positioning and aligning one or a plurality ofsuperposed record strips orV sheets to bring.

y 2.5 ing member in its aperture entering movement.

A further object is to provide, in a'machine of the class mentioned','an improved strip aligning mechanism` to positively align and positionthe strip or strips in inscription re-y ceiving position and'topositively tension said strips and clamp -them in aligning position. Afurther object is to provide, in a machine of the class mentioned, animproved manually operable oscillatable strip engaging member,engageable-With the strip or strips to positivelyadjust them intoaligned position.

Another object is to provide, for machines of the class mentioned, animproved aligning mechanism adapted4 to engage one or a plurality ofsuperposed record strips at parts spaced longitudinally thereof and to'provide an improved operating mechanism to manually move one of theengaging mechanisms longitudinally with reference to the other, so as topositively move the strips into correct position,

Still another object is to provide an improved mechanismy of the `classmentioned which is simple inconstruction, positive and effective inoperatiom and capable of simple and quick installation on billing orlike recordingfmachines of existing construction.

Other objects Will be in" part pointed out in the following detaileddescription of an illustrative butppreferred embodiment of theinvention, and Will be in part obvious in connection therewith.

The invention accordi-ngly'comprises the features of. construction,combinations of. elements, and arrangement of parts, which Will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope ofthe application of which Wil-l be indicated in the claims.

For a more complete disclosure of the nature and objects of theinvention, reference is had to the following detailed description, andto the accompanying dravvings in which:

Figure l is a plan view of a billing machine of the flat platen typeembodying .the invention, parts being broken away or removed tofacilitate disclosure;

F ig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section takensubstantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. l; y

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are detail views of one of the strip aligning pins,showing it in different successive positions in its strip aligningmovement;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig.` 4, but showing the 'aligning pin inits movement of retraction from engagement with a record-stripaperture,iand the action of stripping the strip from the pin, and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan of one of the record strips. l

The improved aligning and tensioning mechanism'may be embodiedv in'Writing or like machines of different character but it is particularlyadapted for application to billing machines and may be applied as anattachment to billing machines of existing construction. Y

Referring ,to the drawings for a'detailed description of the embodimentof the invention there shown, it will be observed that the improvedaligning mechanism is applied to a billing machine of the flat platentype over which the Writing machine proper travels f tion,

, strips into a series of form leaves.

upon supporting rails in order to effect line spacing.

-The supporting frame for the machine may beof any preferred form, theshowing Aof the drawing being somewhat diagrammatic and fragmentary forconvenience of illustra- The main supporting framework or base 10carrying the operative mechanisms of the machine may be supported in anydesired manner as by a pedestal or other form of support (not shown).The framework 11 for supporting the track and the record sheets to bewritten upon may be supported upon the base 10, and includes twoparallel longitudinal side rails or bars 12 connected byl transverseframe members or cross bars 13. The typewriting machine employed forwriting upon the record strips is diagrammatically shown in dot and dashoutline at 14 and is mounted upon the longitudinal side rails formovement back and forth thereon over a flat writing platen 15 whichsupports the record sheets or strips S in flat smooth position forreceiving the impact of the type. As will be understood by those familarwith this art, the general arrangement of the record strips andtypewriting machine is such as topermit the type to strike upondifferentpartsof the record strips S to impart printed impressionsthereto, whereby blank bill forms or like forms upon the strips may befilled in with appropriate dat-a. As it is usually desired to make morethan one copy, a plurality of superposed record strips may be employedas shown in the drawing, carbon sheets or similar transfer materialbeing interposed between the adjacent superposed -sheets over theplaten. If carbon paper isused to transfer the records, the supplylthereof may l supported adjacent the platen in any preferred knownmanner. As many record strips S may be superposed, one on another asdesired to provide the required number of copies. j

The supply of blank record strips is preferably arranged in the form ofa zigzag supply pack or pad S which maybe supported and housed upon oradjacent to the machine in any convenient manner. Each of the recordstrips may be provided with apertures S2 therein` which are preferablyarranged in two longitudinal series on each strip providing pairs ofapertures disposed upon transverse lines of t-he strips as shown in lthedrawing. These apertures 'are utilized for cooperation with stripaligning and tensioning mechanism'described below, the pairs oftransversely disposed apertures respectively bearing a detlnite relationto blank forms which may be printed in a longitudinal series upon eachof the strips. Also it is desirable that adjacent blank forms on each ofthe strips be separated by transverse perforated or `similarly weakenedlines, thus dividing each of the These weakened transverse lines aid inseverance of the form leaves from the strips-after a record has 'beenentered thereon.

In order to retain the record strips in correct position on the platenfor reception of an entry or -inscript-ion thereon, and to assist ineffecting alignment of the strips with reference to each other and tothe writing platen, a clamp or similar holding means is provided in thevicinity of the platen. This strip retaining means may be of differentpreferred forms, that shown being in the form of transverse clamping bar16 positioned to rest against a cross plate 17 mounted in forwardlyinclined position at the front of the machine upon one of the crossframe members '13. This cross plate is removably clamped in position bymeans of clamps 18 engaging lugs 19 upon the cross plate and appropriatelugs on the frame of the machine as shown. The cross plate 17 isprovided with a pair of upstanding pins vor posts 2O preferablyflattenedor elliptical in cross-section and positioned to enter theapertures formed in the record strips S, and apertures 21 ofthe clampingbar 16. The major aXes of the pins 2O are aligned transversely of theframe, and the longitudinally disposed minor axes are considerablyshorter than the diameters of the apertures 21, permitting longitudinaladjustment of the cross-plate 17 relatively to the clamping bar 16. Alsothe minor axes of the elliptical pins 2O are considerably shorter thanthe diameter of the strip apertures so as yto permit longitudinaladjustment of the strips when impaled by the aligning pins 20. In theillustrative embodiment disclosed, the pins 2O are rigid and stationarywith reference to the cross bar 17 and with reference to the frame ofthe machine. The clamping bar 16 serves as a severing edgey at theforward part thereof for tearing ot'the form sheets fromA the supplystrips, and the pin supporting cross plate 17 underlying the clampingbar is cut away at its forward edge to provide a recess tofacilitategrasping of the forward edges of the strip.

,-Movement of the clamping bar 16 to and ayifay from the-cross plate 17to grip and release the underlying record strips may be provided for asshown in the drawing by means of a system' of levers controlled by a rodor link 23 connected to a manual operating member, as a pedal 24 pivotedto aA supporting standard or column 25 depending from and mounted uponthe base plate 10. As shown the clamping bar 16 'at its opposite ends isconnected to and supported by levers 26 pivoted to the side rails 12 bymeans of a transverse rod 27 extending through the levers and attachedat its opposite ends to the side rails. Each of the levers 26 isfurthermore articulated to the adjacent side rail by means of a link 28loosely pivoted to the lever- 26 at 29, and pivoted to the adjacent siderail at.3(). l The rock arms or levers 26 are biased to hold theclamping bar in gripping position by means of one or a lurality oftensioning springs 31 anchored) to the frame and to the lugs 32depending from the rock arms. A U-shaped operating vlever or yoke 33 ispivoted through-its opposite legs tothe adjacent links 28 by meansof apivotal rod 34, the leg of the yoke extending beyond this pivotal rod tounderlie and contact with the rod 27 which thus acts as an abutment orfulcrum for the lugs of the U-lever when it is rocked by the pedal tooperate the clamping rod. The pedalrod 23 may be connected by means of ahook at its upper end tothe U-lever 33. By means of this mounting lforthe clamping bar 26 and ythe operating connections therefor, it `will beseen that depression of the pedal will raise the clamping bar to releaseits grip upon the strips, while the bar is returned to 1 grippingposition by operation of the springs 3l when pressure upon the pedal isreleased.

Positioned rearwardly of the platen is another strip engaging mechanismwhich is active inA positioning and aligning the strips. This mechanismincludes a rock shaft 35 extending transversely of the frame of the ma--chine and connected to be rotated in strip aligning direction byraising of the pedal. These operating connections include a crank arm 36secured to the rock shaft 35 andconnected by a link 37 with one arm of abellcrank lever 38 pivotedto a bracket 39 which may be d etachablyattached to one of the cross frame members 13. The opposite armofthebell-crank lever 38 is positioned to lie in a notch or aperture 40formed. in a link positioned at each side of the crank pin head so as toanchor the connecting link securely to the crank pin. At its oppositeend the operating link 37 is securely connected to a crank pin 45 on thebell-crank lever 38, being similar to crank pin 42 and the link beingsecured against longitudinal sliding movement through the crank pin bynuts 4 6 threaded yon the link and positioned at both sides of the crankpin. y

The rock shaft 35 is preferably mounted at its opposite ends insupporting plates or brackets 47 spaced apart so as to lie with their.

outer faces against the inner faces of the side bars l2. Thesesupporting brackets are arranged to be clamped and supported in positionon the machine frame by clamps 48 preferablyfattached to the bracketsand lspanning the lower edges of the side rails and secured to said siderails by set screws or similar securing means. Secured also to thesupportl ing brackets 47 and extending transversely of the machine frameare structural tie bars 49 and 50 which may also function as stripguiding and supporting rods, and an additional strip guiding andsupporting rod 51 having edge guiding flanges 52 thereon for positioningthe strips edgewiseas they pass onto the bed of the machine from thesupply pad. A unitary guiding and aligning member is vt-hus provided bythe bracket plates 47 and parts supported thereby which may readily beplaced upon orremoved from the, billing machine. 1t will thus be seenthat the entire strip aligning and tensioning attachment togetherwithoperating connections therefor may readily' be applied to billing orlike machines of existing construction with aminimum oflabor and effortand without alteration or impairment to the machine construction andwithout interruption tothe normal operative functions of the machine.

Rigid arms'53 are rigidly mounted upon the rock shaft 35for rockingmotion therewith,

`said arms extending above the shaft and beingspacedfapart a distanceapproximately equal to the transverse spacing of the strip aligningapertures. These rock arms togetherl with therock shaft constitute arockable ca-rrier for a pair of rigid strip engaging, strip aligningmembers or pins 54, each mounted on one of the arms 53 for projectioninto strip aperture 'engaging position and for retraction. Intheembodiment shown, each of the projectable aligningpins pivoted to oneof the carrier arms to effect the projection and retraction of the stripengaging part thereof, and is provided with a strip aperture engagingpart or projection 55 which is preferably oblong in cross-section withthe minor axis extending longitudinally of the machine frame, theforward strip engaging face thereof being rounded or cylindrical for'contacting with the curved walls of the strip aligning apertures. Eachaligning pin 54 is provided with a laterally projecting cam or lug 56from which depends a stop lug 57 positioned for engagement with the rockarm to limit pivotal movement of the aligning pin in one direction. Therock arms are provided at their swinging ends with recesses forreceiving the pivoted aligning pins and a spring pressed friction plug58 is mounted upon the rock arm preferably at the bottom ofsaid recessand positioned so that the outer end thereof is spring pressed intofrictional contact with the lower cylindrical face of the aligning pin.This friction plug thus acts as a friction brake to restrain the pin inany position to which it may have been moved.

Positioned above'the rockable ca-rrier is a transverse tie rod 59connected at opposite ends to the bracket plates 47 and providing asupport for trips or trip lugs 60 which are positioned for contact withthe pin operating' l lug 56, when the aligning pins are carried bodilyby the carrier, so as to effect pivotal or rocking movement of thealigning pins. The outer ends of the trip lugs are also 'positioned forcontacting with the adjacent faces of the pin projections 55 to rock thealigning pins inthe opposite direction when the latter are moved by thecarrier when swinging in theopposite direction. Rocking pressed to raisethe clamping bar 16 and to move the aligning pins forwardly into stripdisengaging position, thestrip may then be threaded over thegpide bar 5linto writing position over the platen, the forward ends of the stripbeing inserted under the clamping -bar with the adjacent strip aligningapertures threaded overrthe stationary aligning pins 20. Pressureiuponthe pedal is then released whereupon the operating elements arepositively returned to normal position under the influence of the spring3l which is relatively heavy and of suficient' strength' to positivelyforce all the connecting operative elements into final position.

As the pedal is returned to normal position, the aligning pin AcarrierAis positivelyv rocked in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2,imparting movement of translation to iso the aligning pins 54, and asthis movement continues the lugs or cams 56 Contact with the trips 60effecting rotary movement of the pins in a direction counter to the-rotation of the carrier. A composite movement, that is movement ofrotation and movement of translation, is thus imparted tothe stripaligning pins, and thestrip engaging projection 55 gradually swings intoupright position, the end thereof wiping or' sliding over the under faceas the movement continues.`

Because of the composite movement of the aligning pins, entry of stripengaging projections into the apertures is facilitated,` and tofurtherfacilitate this entry into the apertures, the operatingconnections are preferably positioned and proportioned so that the stripengaging ends of the pin projections are givenpa slight movementforwardly of the strip as they Contact therewith, and are thfn movedrearwardly thereof. The effect of this action is oscillatory movement ofthe strip engaging end of the pin projection longitudinall'y of thestrip while in contact with the latter, the pin projection thusfunctioning as asojrt of a feeler to find its way into the stripapertures. This feature is of special advantage and utility where aplurality of superposed strips are employed and the correspondingaligning apertures therein chance to be out of exact registry with eachother. Due to this oscillatory action, the pin projection is enabled tothread its way into the apertures of the superposed strips. lien theprojections 55 reach substantially upright position, they are stoppedthere by contact of the stop lugs 57 with the adjacent faces (jf. therock arms.A This stopping action occuns some time before the carrierreaches the rearward limit of its swinging movement so that, for theremainder of the movement of said carrier, the aligning pins move as arigid'unit therewith, the rounded or cylindrical surface of the pinprojection being in engagement with the rearward walls of the aligningapertures so as to positively force the strips rearwardly into correctaligning position, and to tension and smooth them over the writingplaten.

During the aligning action of the aligning pins 54 as described above,itvwill be understood that the strips areimpaled at their forwardextremities Vover the stationary strip aligning pins 20, but the stripaligning apertures being of greater diameter than the minor axes of thestationary aligning pins, relative longitudinal movement ofthe strips ispermitted, while at the same timethe for* ward ends of the strips arerestrained within certain' limits. j

Also theoper-ating connections are so proportioned and adjusted that theclamping bar 16 is set to grip the strips only after aligning action ofthe pins 54 is substantially coinpleted, alignment of the strips beingat that time completely effected. This function is accomplished in theembodiment of thelinvention shown by means of a connection between theupper or horizontal arm of the bell i crank lever 38 and the bracket 4l.Referring "to Fig. 2, it will be seen that said upper arm and bracketare so proportioned and relatively positioned that the arm slides out ofthe slot 40 at the 'instant the aligning pins 55 have reachedsubstantially final aligning positionY but prior to setting of theclamping vbar 16 into a clamping position. The aligning pins then remainstationary in finalaligning position whileltlie clamp bar 16 descends togrip the strips thereunder. This 'permitsV free and unobstructedlongitudinal aligning movement of the strips during the aligning actionof the aligning pins 54. The clamping bar isset into clamping positionupon the strips slightly after the aligning pins 54 reach their finalrearward movement, wher-efl by the strips are gripped and positivelyheld 1n correct position and smooth condition over `the platen for entryof an inscription thereon.

When the upper arm'of the bell crank lever 38 slides fromthe slot 40 ofthe bracket 41 during ascent. of the latter, the end of said armcontacts with the adjacent side'of the cam lug 40a which underlies theslot 40. This action prevents reverse movement ofthe bell crank leverthus locking the aligning pins in final aligning position. When thealigning ins are in inal aligning position one of the stop lugs or pins61 is substantially in Contact with the adjacent bracket 48 as shown inFig. 1 in full lines and Fig. 2 in dotted lines, so as to prevent thealigning pins from rearward movement beyond aligning position;

' this action also retains the upper bell crank lever arm in correctoperative position relatively to the bracket 41. 'The other stop lug 61as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, is positioned to contact with the.adjacent bracket A48 substantially at the opposite limit of theArocking stroke of the carrier so as to limit A Y carrier movement inthe opposite direction.'

When the entry is completed, the pedal is again depressed releasing theclamping bar and positively rocking the carrier in a counter clockwisedirection as viewed in Fig, 2. As the pedal -is depressed, the end ofthe upper bell crank lever arm first slides idly over the side of thecam "lug 40d and subsequently the lug 4()b of the bracket 41 contactswith said upper arm to positively rock the bell crank levercounter-clockwise and thereby through the operative connectionsdescribed, positively rock the aligning pins and carrier thereforforwardly from strip align-' ing position. During this movement the endof the upper arm of the bell crank lever isprojected into the recesses 40 in a position to overlie the cam lug 40L1 so as to be raised by thelatter upon the return or upward stroke of the pedal. In this movementof the carrier, the trip contacts with the adjacent faces of the pinprojections 55 so as to positively rock the aligning pins in a clockwisedirection and thus positively withdraw the "pin projections fromengagement with the CFI strip aligning apertures. If for any reason thestrip should stick orl bind upon the pin projections, the engagementwill be positively released by contact of l.the trips with the underside of the strips, that is, the trips function as strippers topositively remove the strips from engagement with the aligning ins. pThe pedal being depressed, the strips mayy I then be manually pulledforwardly by grasping the forward ends thereof projecting into theaperture in the front edge of the cross plate 17, to bring fresh blankforms into position over the platen. The next successive 'strip aligningapertures are impaledv upon the aligning pins 20 and upon release of thepressure upon the pedal, the cycle of operations of aligning the stripsas above describedr It is also to be understood that the-followingclaims are'intended to cover all of the generic and specific features ofthe invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of theinvention which, as a matter of language, might be said to falltherebetween.

Having described `my invention, what I claim jas new and desire tosecure byLetters Patent, is: j

1. In a strip aligning device for billing machines or the like, incombination, a pivoted strip aligning pin, a support for supporting saidpin for bodily movement, and a trip 'member attached to the aligningdevice for automatically eifecting pivotal movement of said aligning pinupon bodily movement thereof. y i

2.111 a strip aligning device for billing machines or the like, incombination, a pair of pivoted strip aligning pins for entering aligningapertures in the strip, a support for supporting said aligning pins forswinging bodily movement, said pins being pivoted to said support, and atrip device attached to the aligning device for automatically effectingpivotal movement of said aligning pins so as to bring them into positionfor aligning engagement with the strip apertures.

3. In a strip aligning device for billing Y thereof, and amanualoperating member hav-l ing'positive operating connections for positivelyeffecting operative movement of said pin support.

4. In a strip aligning device for billing machines or the like, incombination, a pair of pivoted strip aligning pins for entering aligningapertures in the strip, a support for supporting-said aligning pins forswinging bodily movement, said pins being pivoted to said support, atrip device attached to the aligning device for automatically effectingpivotalmovement of said aligning pins so as to bring them into positionfor aligning engagement with the strip apertures, and a manual operatingmember having positive operating connections'for positively eiiectingoperative swinging movement oi said pin support.

5. In a stripaligmng device for billing machines or the like, incombination, a pivoted vpins for entering aligning apertures inthestrip, a supportior supporting said aligning,- pins orbodily movement,said pins being:

mounted for projection andy retractionupon said support, Ia trip deviceattached to the aligning device for 'automatically effecting projectionof said aligning pins so as to bring them into position for aligningengagement with thestrip apertures upon bodily nievement of said pins, apair oi strip restraining pins spaced longitudinally from said aligningpins, and a strip clamping bar mounted in proximity to said striprestraining pins.

7. In a strip aligning device for billing machines or the like, incombination, a pivoted strip aligning pin, a support for supporting saidpin :tor bodily movement, a trip member attached to the aligning devicefor automatically eecting pivotal movement ot said aligning pin uponbodily movement thereof amanj ual operating member having positiveoperating connections for positively eiiecting operative movement ofsaid pin support, and a strip restraining device spaced longitudinallyfrom said aligning pintor restraining engagement with the strip duringaligning-opera.- tion of said strip aligning pin. y

8. in a strip aligning device i'or billing machines or the like incombination, a pair of pivotal strip aligning pins for enteringaligningl apertures in the strip, a support for sup-Jv portingsaidaligning pins for swinging bod'- ily movement, said pins being pivotedto said support, a trip device attached to the aligning device forautomatically etfecting pivotal movement oi said aligning pins so as tobring them into position for aligning engagement with the stripapertures,'a manual operating member having positive operatingconnections ior positively eecting operative swinging movement of saidpin support, a pair of strip restraining pins spaced longitudinally fromsaid aligning pins for engagement with strip apertures during aligningoperation of said strip aligning pins, and a strip clamping bar mountedin proximity of said strip restraining pins and operatively connected tosaid manual operating member for operation cally effecting pivotalmovement ot' said aligning pin upon bodily movement thereof, and arictional restraining device for restraining pivotal movement of saidpivoted aligning pin..

l0. In a strip aligning device for billing machines or the like, incombination, a pivotal strip aligning pin mounted for movement oftranslation, and a frictional device for restraining said pin againstpivotal movement. l1. In a strip aligning device for billing machines orthe like, in combination, a pivoted strip aligning pin mounted formovement of translation, a trictional device for restraining saidpin'against pivotal movement, and

a trip member cooperating to automaticallyetiect pivotal movement-ofsaid aligning pin in lopposite directions upon-translatory movementthereof indierent directions l2. ln a strip aligning device for billingmachines or the like,.in combination, a movable carrier, a stripaligning pin mounted upon said carrier for projection and retraction,and means independent of the strip and dependent upon movement of thecarrier for automatically projecting and retracting said strip aligningpin to and from strip engaging position. l f

i3. ln a strip aligning device for billing machines or the like, incombination, a carrier mounted for swinging movement, a pair of stripaligning pins mounted ,upon said carrier for projection and retraction,and means independent of the strip and dependent upon movement of thecarrier for automatically projecting and retract-ing said strip aligningpinto and from strip engaging position.

14. In a strip aligning device `for billing machines or the like, incombination, a carrier mounted for swinging movement, a pair/"of stripaligning pins mounted upon said carrier for rotary movement intoprojected or re-A tracted position, and automatic' means dependent upon'swinging movement oi said carrier for rotating said pins in eitherdirection in opposition to the direction of swinging movement or" saidcarrier.

l5. in a strip aligning device for billing machines or the like, incombination, a carrier mounted for reciprocatory movement, a stripengaging member mounted for translatory movement with said carrier vandfor" projection thereon int-o position lto engage apertures' formed inthe strip, operating mechanism for imparting reciprocatory movement tosaid carrier, and trip mechanism for positively -and automaticallyprojecting and relOO Air.

tracting said strip engaging member-upon reciprocatory movement of saidcarrier.

16. In a strip aligning device for 'billing machines or the like, incombination, a carrier mounted for movement relatively to the strips tobe aligned, a stripaligning member mounted upon said carrier and carriedthereby into osition for aliffnin enga ement with a ei'- D b p on saidcarrier and carried thereby into position for-engagement in aperturesformed in the strips, and a vtrip mechanism operating in conjunctionWith carrier movement to move said strip aligning member in oppositedirections as it comes-into contact with the strip face to facilitateentry into said apertures.

`18. -In a strip aligning device for billing machines or the like, incombination, a strip y aligning member mounted for longitudinal movementrelatively to the strip and engageable in aligning apertures formed inthe strip, and a stripper for automatically forcing the strip andaligning member apart to :tree the engagement between said member andaperture. p p

1 19. In a strip aligning device, in combinai tion, Ia swingably mountedcarrier, a strip aligning pin mounted on said carrier so as to be movedinto strip engaging or strip disengaging position and positive manualoperating mechanism for positively swinging said carrier both in stripaligning and in reverse directions. l

20. In a strip aligning device in combination, a clamp for clamping astrip against feeding movement, operating mechanism for said clamp, asivingably mounted carrier, a strip aligning pin mounted upon saidcarrier to as to be moved into strip engaging or strip disengagingposition andoperating connections controlled by said operating mechanism`to positively swing said carrier in either directionand adapted tocomplete an aligning action of said pins priorto setting said clamp .inclamping position.

2l. `In a strip aligning device in combination, a clamp for clamping astrip against` feeding movement, operating mechanism for said clamp, aswingably mount-ed carrier, a

strip aligning pin pivotally mounted on said carrier so as to be movedinto strip engaging or strip `disengaging position, a tripA member forautomatically moving said aligning pin on its pivot when said carrierisrocked in strip aligning direction and operating connectionscontrolled by said operating mechanism topositivelyswing said carrier ineither direction and adapted to complete an aligning action of said pinsprior to setting said clamp in clamping position.

22. In a strip-aligning device for Writing machines, in combination, anoscillatable carrier, means for oscillating said carrier, astripaligning pin pivoted to and carried by said carrier and adapted toenter apertures in a strip in effecting strip alignment, and a tripmember attachedto and mounted upon the aligning device and cooperatingto automatically move said aligning pin upon movement of said carrier.

23. In a strip-aligning device for Writing machines, in combination, anoscillatable carrier, means for oscillating said carrier, astripaligning pin pivoted to and carried by said vcarrier and adapted toenter apertures in a vcarrier and adapted to enter apertures in a stripin effecting strip alignment, a pin-operating member operativelyconnected to said pin, a trip member attached to and mounted upon thealigning device and operativelyengaging said pin-operating member toautomatically pivotally move said pin upon movement of said carrier, anda stop for limiting the pivotal movement of said pin on said carrierWhen'in strip-aligning position. 25. In a strip-aligning device forwriting machines, in combination, a pivotally oscillatab'le carrier,means for oscillating said carrier, a strip-aligning pin pivoted to andcarried by said carrier and adapted to enter apertures in a strip ineffecting strip alignment, a pin-operating member carried by the pin andhaving an operating surface angu- Alarly spaced froml the pin, and atrip loop

